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“The sheer scale of this place cannot fail to impress” |
My friends Mary and Chris told me about the ticket for Versailles which combines transport and museum entrance, so I got one at Gare du Nord (21.45 Euro inclusive). This was a very good step because it saved queuing at Versailles for an entry ticket .. there was still a long queue for ticket holders because of security checks .. this is becoming standard practice everywhere and a real bore.
It was well over 20 years ago that I went to Versailles and there has been a massive restoration project since then, so the place certainly is stunning. While the architecture is so over the top that I don’t find it all that interesting as architecture, the sheer scale of this place cannot fail to impress. My disappointment was that the Opera House (a part of the palace) was closed for refurbishment and it was one of the highlights Mary and Chris described to me.
The gardens and fountains of Versailles are well worth the visit and I spent over 4 hours in them. Two things really struck me .. the odd perspective over the main garden in which the Grand Canal in the distance seems to rise up as if tilted toward you rather than recede into a fine point of the horizon .. I am sure this is a clever trick of the designer, but what a clever trick it is.
previous travel blog entry
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